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By Elizabeth Prata
"Put on the whole armor of God..."
We often see kids in VBS or Sunday School with cartoon depictions of men in armor, the helmet, shield, belt, shoes, breastplate, sword. Besides, we're all so familiar with the metaphor of armor that sometimes we tend to skim this portion of Ephesians 6.
We think, "I've got to put on my armor and make sure I'm suitably protected from the schemes and fiery darts of the devil..." We might picture ourselves as soldiers, wearing the gear from head to toe.
And that's OK. That is all right.
But the beginning of this passage says 'put on the armor of God.' It's HIS armor. Let's look at some parallel verses from the Old Testament to see it:
Isaiah 11:5
Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
Isaiah 11:5
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
2 Samuel 22:36
You have given me Your shield of salvation; and Your gentleness exalts me.
It's God's armor. When we put it on, we are putting on God, cloaking ourselves in His strength and might and protection.
"Put on the whole armor of God..."
We often see kids in VBS or Sunday School with cartoon depictions of men in armor, the helmet, shield, belt, shoes, breastplate, sword. Besides, we're all so familiar with the metaphor of armor that sometimes we tend to skim this portion of Ephesians 6.
We think, "I've got to put on my armor and make sure I'm suitably protected from the schemes and fiery darts of the devil..." We might picture ourselves as soldiers, wearing the gear from head to toe.
And that's OK. That is all right.
But the beginning of this passage says 'put on the armor of God.' It's HIS armor. Let's look at some parallel verses from the Old Testament to see it:
Isaiah 11:5
Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
Isaiah 11:5
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
2 Samuel 22:36
You have given me Your shield of salvation; and Your gentleness exalts me.
It's God's armor. When we put it on, we are putting on God, cloaking ourselves in His strength and might and protection.
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